Planned Parenthood's Youth Organizing and Policy Institute: Gulf Coast

Over the weekend I attended Planned Parenthood's Youth Organizing and Policy Institute (YOPI) in Houston, Texas. The mission of YOPI is to train young activists between the ages of 18-24 to mobilize their communities around reproductive justice and sexual health. Millennials (those currently aged about 13-30) have not only the largest voting block in America right now, but according to Pew Research Center are also the most ethnically diverse and the most politically progressive in our nation's history. YOPI engaged participants through workshops and small group break outs that ultimately led to an advocacy effort at the end of the training. Planned Parenthood is bringing YOPI all across the nation to about 1,000 young activists through 8 regional conferences.

Each conference discusses challenges unique to each region. I've written a few blog posts regarding Texas' issues such as the dismantling of the Women's Health Program and mandatory waiting periods and ultrasounds.

After an enjoyable 3 hour bus ride over to Houston, some Austin area folks and myself arrived to the smoothest check-in ever. We received our guides, our name tags, and this sweet V-neck Planned Parenthood t-shirt. I requested to be a small group facilitator, so I got an extra fancy tag.

Liz and me representing Voices for Reproductive Justice and being super stoked when we arrived

The first night was extremely inspirational as we broke out into small group and learned about what called each individual to action in our story of self. This was something I struggled with because 1. I suck at telling stories and 2. I love nitty gritty facts and struggle with personal anecdotes (which one do I choose?!). One of my favorite parts of this night though was hearing my mentors' stories from my local Planned Parenthood affiliate. How had I never asked them before?! 

We got back to our hotel at a decent time, but I was so excited that I literally could not fall asleep until about 2am. Then it was back up super early for a meeting at 7:45. Here is a picture I got of my small group on the second day.

From left to right: Caroline and Kathy from UT, Sarah and Molly from Texas State, and me

The second day was a lot different. This was the day we were to come up with our Vox Chapter's purpose, and over the course of the 13 hour day (on about 5 hours of sleep for me), an extremely detailed strategic plan of how we were going to fulfill our purpose. Initially I felt overwhelmed at our region's mission to register 1,000 voters and get 2,000 voter pledge cards by October 9th, of which a large part is to come from VRJ since we are at UT. Luckily I have the most amazing boss ever who pulled me aside and calmed my concerns. Thank you Miss. Brittany Yelverton (seriously though, I was a mess)! I didn't get many pictures from this day because it was literally back to back meetings for me.

Dyana, me, and Brittany after a 13 hour day.

The last day was much less stressful as we reconvened in small groups to come up with a story of our community and rehearsed our call to action. We even got to take some pictures before we left.

My fellow peer educators at the conference. Thank you Tiffany Vo for the picture!

Then, depending on travel plans, we split up to either block walk or phone bank. My group was assigned to block walk getting pledge to vote cards. I've got to be honest, I loathed the idea of block walking. It made me extremely nervous and I just didn't want to do it. I hate when people I don't know knock on my door, so I didn't want to knock on anyone else's door. Here was my breakout group for block walking before we went out.

Some VRJ gals! me, Liz, Caroline, and Kathy

We broke out into teams of 2 and a few teams of 3. We were given 40 addresses and 2 hours to get as many pledge to votes as possible. Y'all, block walking is SO FUN. My team got 11 cards out of 40 addresses. I'm pretty happy with that 1:4 ratio! We also met some really friendly people who were happy to take a minute or two out of their day to help our cause. Lavern was my favorite. Lavern is an  80 year old woman who, after mentioning her children and grandchildren, asked us if $5 would be enough- before we could get to our pledge to vote pitch. Hilariously awesome. When all of the 8 or 9 teams got back we had collected 50 cards (that 1:5 ratio sounds good too!)! 

My team from left to right: Kathy, Sarah, and me (GO TEAM!)

Oh the other awesome part of this was the lemonade Dyana had for us when we got back from block walking. This little girl had a lemonade stand to raise money for new shoes for school. Dyana bought all of the lemonade and a team even got a pledge to vote from her mom. GIRL POWER!

So basically, YOPI was a huge learning experience for me: I learned how to organize and strategize, but most importantly I made so many friends. This picture below is all of the Austin folks that I can't wait to work with. Thank you all for being so amazing and let's get together for some one-on-ones!

photobomb FTW

Thanks to Tiffany Vo for the picture of all conference attendees!

Thoughts on LiveAction's Newest Sting on Planned Parenthood

The first thing I saw when I went online this morning was a sting video from LiveAction on Planned Parenthood. I knew this video was coming for about a month.

The only word I can think of to describe how I felt after I watched video is "icky," and that is for two reasons: this was recorded at the Planned Parenthood I volunteer with, and the "promotion of gendercide." Luckily I had a meeting with Voices for Reproductive Justice where I knew I had a safe place to discuss my thoughts.

So gendercide.... I thought that was an issue in Southeast Asia- China specifically. How could my beloved Planned Parenthood promote gendercide? But after a little discussion and critical watching of this video, this counselor was only nonjudgmental of her client. As a future social worker, I know that as a counselor you are ethically bound to not judge a client who is capable of their own self determination.

Let's start from the beginning. "Planned Parenthood advises waiting until the unborn child is 4-5 months old to detect if it's a girl for a late-term abortion." Actually, that's just how long you have to wait to determine the sex of the baby. The counselor tells the woman she has until her 23rd week of pregnancy to terminate, and then explains "regular doctors have told women you can't terminate after 16 weeks." That's true, because some clinics are legally only allowed to terminate up to 15 weeks 6 days. Later term abortions must be performed at surgical centers per Texas law. (Texas allows termination until the third trimester.) And it's true that some abortion doctors will not terminate pregnancies after a certain gestational age because of their own preference. And that's okay!

Sure, the counselor's personal information was unnecessary, but this video really is not that shocking. Abortion is a decision between a woman and her DOCTOR. And that cleverly repeated bit of the counselor saying, "I hope you get your boy!" wasn't "I hope you terminate your pregnancy if it's a girl!"

I'm a promoter of safe abortion on demand. No woman's abortion is more right or more wrong than another woman's abortion- EVER. Sex selective abortion happens. Maybe we should be focusing more on the patriarchal society we live in that would prompt a family to prefer a male child over a female child rather than clinics protecting a woman's right and ability to plan her family.


UPDATE:
Planned Parenthood's Statement

"The world’s leading women’s health and rights organizations, including the World Health Organization, do not believe that curtailing access to abortion services is a legitimate means of addressing sex selection, and have made clear that gender bias can only be resolved by addressing the underlying conditions that lead to it. And we agree. We support efforts that ensure girls and women have access to economic opportunity, including fair wages, basic health care, political participation, education, and a life free of violence and discrimination. Planned Parenthood works to ensure women and their families have access to high-quality nonjudgmental health services free of coercion, supported by information and counseling."

Annie's List Luncheon with Planned Parenthood

A few days ago, I was invited by Dyana and Dru to attend an Annie's List luncheon where Annie's List was presenting their Woman Warrior Award in memory of Bettie Naylor.

At the event, Sissy Farenthold and Wendy Davis gave short speeches, and Donna Howard closed the event. Sissy Farenthold urged the crowd to become aware of and fight against ALEC. Wendy Davis encouraged us to continue fighting for women's rights and supporting Annie's List endorsed candidates, like she herself once was.

me, Mackenzie, and Seetha 

Mackenzie is the president of UT's Student Chapter of Texas Freedom Network.

Dyana, me, and Dru

HUGE thanks to Dyana,  Dru, and Planned Parenthood for the invitation!

Before You Go:

According to KUT, ONLY 4.87% OF AUSTIN'S REGISTERED VOTERS VOTED EARLY IN THE MAYORAL ELECTION. GET TO THE POLLS... WITH NUMBERS LIKE THIS YOUR VOTE COUNTS SIGNIFICANTLY! LAST CHANCE IS MAY 12 FROM 7AM-7PM. 

War on Women Rally April 28, 2012 Austin, TX

Today was the War on Women Rally. Jessica made a good point that it was a little anti-climactic. Unfortunately I too have been to a lot of these rallies and I had urges to leave early several times at this event. It was great to see SO MANY people out and from so many parts of Texas, but when you live in Austin and go to these rallies all the time it is kind of... same ol' same ol'. (I'm THRILLED so many people got involved. I can only hope that they will trek to the polls to make their voices heard where it REALLY COUNTS!) Anyway, there are ALWAYS great signs to be had, I got a picture with Dawnna Dukes, I signed some people up for Planned Parenthood's mailing list, did some voter registration, and signed a petition against new outrageous abortion reporting in Texas, so I'd still say it was a success!

Kathy Miller, president of Texas Freedom Network

Dawnna Dukes! She gave a shorter rendition of the speech below- truly inspiring.

Representative Dukes and me... SHERO

(Governor Jan Brewer Signs Arizona's Extreme New Abortion Law)

GYT PUB CRAWL WITH VOICES FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE!

More bars may be added. Must be 21+ to attend.

Tell us if you're attending here.

President Obama's Message to Planned Parenthood Supporters

"Women are not an interest group. They're mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives. They're half of this country. They're perfectly capable of making their own choices about their health."

CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT.

Want to tell the Texas government that women, not politicians, should make their own health decisions? Want to tell the Texas government that you stand with Planned Parenthood? SIGN THE PETITION!

Op-Ed: Texas Loses The Medicaid Women’s Health Program Over Politics

            Rick Perry made a big mistake when he denied Federal Medicaid funding for the Women’s Health Program to make a political statement over abortion.

            The Women’s Health Program (WHP) is a Medicaid program that provides low-income Texas women with annual pap-smears, STI testing, contraceptives, and diabetes screenings among other preventative care.

            At the beginning of the year, Texas state governor Rick Perry decided to make an executive order denying abortion affiliates from receiving federal Medicaid funding for the WHP. He made an exemption for hospitals, meaning that the only affiliate being excluded was, can you guess? Planned Parenthood.

            Texas’ new law explicitly disregards federal Medicaid law that requires women be able to choose any medical provider that is qualified to perform services covered under the WHP.

            Excluding Planned Parenthood from the WHP because they are an abortion affiliate is nonsensical; to qualify for WHP you have to be between the ages of 18 and 44 and importantly, not pregnant. Under the Hyde Amendment, no state or federal money has helped pay for abortions since 1976.

            The Medicaid Women’s Health Program is 90% funded by the federal government- for every $1 Texas invests the feds give us $9. Texas is denying nearly $35 million dollars in federal funding for preventative care for women. Texas pays about $1.3 billion annually for unintended pregnancies, the highest price tag in America except for California whom we are tied with for first place.

            Rick Perry has promised that the state of Texas will cover the funds we will lose by the implementation of the new law. This notion is interesting, because last legislative session, Texas cut preventative care funding from $111 million down to just $38 million when facing a devastating budget crisis. This resulted in nearly 300,000 women losing access to care. By implementation of the new executive order denying abortion affiliates (wait, just Planned Parenthood) from receiving funding, an additional 130,000 women will lose care.

            Rick Perry’s argument has been that Planned Parenthood makes up only 2% of WHP providers. This is true, but they also provide a whopping 44% of the services. A lot of Texas doctors cannot cover Medicaid services, because they get a much higher reimbursement from private insurance companies. Doctors literally cannot afford to accept Medicaid.  Without Planned Parenthood, the WHP will not have the capacity to operate. Jose Camacho, the executive director of the Texas Association of Community Health Centers has said there is no way the remaining health centers that have suffered budget cuts will be able to build the capacity quickly enough to continue care for the 130,000 women who rely on Planned Parenthood for their annual exams and other preventative services.

            A reporter asked the governor what Texas would do if Texas could come up with the money, but providers still could not cover the services. Perry’s response was, “Well, I don’t live in what ifs.” That sounds like an extremely illogical argument, and a dangerous one. I for one am fond of back up plans when it comes to health care for 130,000 Texas women.

            Kay Bailey Hutchison, another staunchly pro-life Texas representative, has actually dissented against Rick Perry’s choice to reject federal funding, a move that surprised Planned Parenthood and its supporters. Someone with political will in Texas knows that the Women’s Health Program in no way funds abortions, because you can’t be pregnant and receive services from the program! There is hope for Texas.

            It is important for Texas’ governor to sit down at the table with the federal government, and decide how to resolve this issue. One in four Texas women lack health insurance, and Texas has the third highest rate of cervical cancer in the nation. Texas cannot afford to reject money for preventative health care for low-income Texas women.

Wendy Davis, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Nancy Keenan, and Articles I'm Reading

Wendy Davis' Office Gets Fire Bombed

On Tuesday, six Molotov cocktails were thrown at Texas State Senator Wendy Davis' office. Thankfully, no one was hurt. While no motive has yet been established, Senator Davis has been in the public eye supporting Planned Parenthood and the Women's Health Program.

Rachel Maddow Interviews Wendy Davis

CW33: Ft. Worth Police Arrest Suspect in the Firebombing Attack of Senator Wendy Davis' Office

Brief history on anti-choice violence.

Check out Keep Your Boehner Out of My Uterus Tumblr for more info. (This is just a great blog in general for reproductive health issues throughout our nation.)

Senator Hutchison Supports the Medicaid Women's Health Program


I often get automated response e-mail from Senator Hutchison's office in response to petitions that say something along the lines of... "I do everything I can to support life and this doesn't do that," etc. So, hearing Senator Hutchison support Planned Parenthood as a provider for the Medicaid Women's Health Program was exhilarating. Someone with political will in Texas understands that the WHP in no way funds abortions! (Everyone is aware that to qualify for WHP you have to be between the ages of 18-44 and NOT PREGNANT, right?) See below!

CALL TO ACTION
PLEASE take 2 minutes out of your life to call Rick Perry's Opinion Hotline at 1-800-252-9600. Don't know what to say? I made a little script for my call that I'm happy to share.

Governor Perry,

My name is ___________ and I'm from ___________, Texas. I am calling in regards to the defunding of the Medicaid Women's Health Program. Texas is about to reject 35 million dollars in federal funds for preventative care because YOU don't want Planned Parenthood to receive any money. Medicaid law requires that patients have the right to choose their provider. We both know that Texas does not have the 35 million to cover the lost federal funds like you have promised. It is also evident that Medicaid providers can not handle the influx of 44% of the program's patients that will lose access when Planned Parenthood is excluded. Please reconsider your decision to defund the Women's Health Program.



Nancy Keenan (President of NARAL) Talks With Jennifer Granholm on "The War Room"

Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon

Like what I'm doing and want to support? Please consider making a donation to my Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser. By raising money, I am filling a vital health care gap by helping women pay for abortion care, emergency contraception, options counseling, child care during abortion procedures, and transportation costs to clinics. I'm supporting our community members when they need me the most.

Here's a little more about Lilith - the fund has been around for 10 years.  Its first challenge was to raise $10,000 to begin assisting low-income folks with abortion funding.  Last year, Lilith gave away $80,000 to over 1,000 patients - so the average grant is around $75.  Once clients have an appointment with a clinic and know how much money they need, they call the hotline.  A volunteer responds to their call, provides financial counseling, and ultimately determines the amount of money they can grant to the client.  They work with clinics across Texas from El Paso to Beaumont, as far north as Killeen and south into the RGV.  The TEA Fund is Lilith's "sister" fund for North Texas.  

My goal as of now is $100, but I'd love to blow that out of the water. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

Other Links

Tell HHS: Support Birth Control With No Co-Pays For Every Woman. Sign the petition!

Tell Governor Perry: Don't Mess with Texas Women. Sign the petition!

RSVP to the War on Women Rally April 28th at the Capitol.

Check out the We Are Women March website.

Apply for the White House Young America Series hosted by UT on April 10th. Submissions are due March 30th.

Blacksnob: No Apologies: On the Killing of Trayvon Martin and Being "Good"

NPR: What Your Gyno Doesn't Know About Your Sex Life, But Should

Amy Johnson: My Problem with Purity Balls

Please "Like" the Voices for Reproductive Justice Facebook page!

Follow me on Twitter!

Seeing Red Rally and Planned Parenthood's Final Bus Tour Stop March 13, 2012

CALL TO ACTION
PLEASE take 2 minutes out of your life to call Rick Perry's Opinion Hotline at 1-800-252-9600. Don't know what to say? I made a little script for my call that I'm happy to share.

Governor Perry,

My name is ___________ and I'm from ___________, Texas. I am calling in regards to the defunding of the Medicaid Women's Health Program. Texas is about to reject 35 million dollars in federal funds for preventative care because YOU don't want Planned Parenthood to receive any money. Medicaid law requires that patients have the right to choose their provider. We both know that Texas does not have the 35 million to cover the lost federal funds like you have promised. It is also evident that Medicaid providers can not handle the influx of 44% of the program's patients that will lose access when Planned Parenthood is excluded. Please reconsider your decision to defund the Women's Health Program.


Seeing Red Rally
This weeks Seeing Red Rally was way bigger!

The best part of rallies are the signs, and really they explain what's happening better than any summary I could come up with.

Second-wave sign

VRJ Prez, Liz

Rocking the "controversial" Doonesbury comics. (Has anyone been paying attention? If people are offended by the comics, why aren't they offended by the LAWS?)

YOUNG PEOPLE, YAY!

"Rhymes for the win," as this nice young lady says.

#winning

My mom says the same thing.

Please, and thank you.

Right? How is denying access to preventative/life saving health care pro-life?

"Roll over Rick Perry, we gotta probe for you."

I would have opted not to post this picture if I didn't see that little girl smiling and banging pans later. I think her pissed off face adds a little something special. DON'T MESS WITH MY MOM!

The last amazing thing that happened at this rally is I met the mysterious author of the Keep Your Boehner Out Of My Uterus! This blog is fantastic, and I highly recommend it as a regular read. 

Planned Parenthood Final Bus Tour Stop

This is what I saw when I came back to The Capitol later.

Liz and I held this sign through the rally.

"I'M MAD AS HELL!"

Let me just say, Representative Dawna Dukes is my new hero. By far the best speech of the night.

Liz and me after the rally.

KVUE News Report on Planned Parenthood's Final Bus Tour Stop.

Texas Tribune on What's Next for Texas' Women's Health Program.

Planned Parenthood's Bus Tour Tumblr.

The Texas Independent: Rule Excluding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid Program Takes Effect Today

Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon

Like what I'm doing and want to support? Please consider making a donation to my Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser. By raising money, I am filling a vital health care gap by helping women pay for abortion care, emergency contraception, options counseling, child care during abortion procedures, and transportation costs to clinics. I'm supporting our community members when they need me the most.

After interning at Whole Woman's Health, I am very aware of how helpful the Lilith Fund is. Their donations are made on a sliding income scale.

My goal as of now is $100, but I'd love to blow that out of the water. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION! Hugs will be aplenty. 

Other Links

Tell Governor Perry: Don't Mess with Texas Women. Sign the petition!

RSVP to the War on Women Rally April 28th at the Capitol.

Doonesbury Comic Strips about Texas abortion laws.

Donate to my abortion fundraiser. 

Jezebel: Hillary Clinton Urges Women Not to Take Any Shit

UT's Sexual Health Educator has an interview with CycleBeads.

Sir Richards: Sluts Unite

Please "Like" the Voices for Reproductive Justice Facebook page!

Follow me on twitter!

Planned Parenthood Bus Tour Stop in Dallas Texas March 11, 2011

I happened to be in Dallas over the weekend where the Planned Parenthood Bus Tour made a stop on Sunday, March 11.

This was the only picture I got worth posting, but here I am repping for Voices for Reproductive Justice. Thanks for the signs, Dru!

My friend sent me this picture when she was cutting video at her work. Thanks, Katia!

I didn't get many pictures from this rally, but I did find some great links.

CW33 News Clip about the Planned Parenthood Bus Tour stop in Dallas.

Planned Parenthood Tumblr for the Bus Tour stops.

Planned Parenthood Flickr set

Upcoming Rallies

The Seeing Red Rally takes place at The Capitol tomorrow, March 13, from 12pm-2pm.

The last stop of the Planned Parenthood Bus Tour is at The Capitol tomorrow, Mach 13, from 6:30pm-7:30pm. CECILE RICHARDS WILL BE SPEAKING!

Other Links

Tell Governor Perry: Don't Mess with Texas Women. Sign the petition!

RSVP to the War on Women Rally April 28th at the Capitol.

The Texas Tribune speaks with Kathleen Sebelius about the Women's Health Program.

Texas Tribune: Feds Will Not Renew Women's Health Program

MSNBC News Clip on defunding the Women's Health Program

Rachel Maddow Clip on Texas' Mandatory Vaginal Ultrasound and the Doonesbury Comic Strip

The Guardian: Doonesbury Comic Strip on Texas Abortion Laws Dropped

All of the Doonesbury Comic Strips about Texas' Abortion Laws running this week.

UPDATE: The above link is no longer active. They will repost when all of the comics have run. See this link and this link for now.

The Nation: The Genius of Cecile Richards

Sir Richards: Sluts Unite

Please "Like" the Voices for Reproductive Justice Facebook page!

Follow me on twitter!